Dubai Expo City has been awarded the ISO (20121:2024) certification for sustainable events across multiple locations within the city, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable event practices in alignment with its vision for urban development.
The ISO 20121:2024 certification serves as an international standard for sustainable event management systems, confirming that Dubai Expo City has implemented an effective management system that thoroughly integrates sustainability into event planning and operations. This system aims to mitigate any negative impacts from events and reduce them to the lowest extent possible, while promoting a positive legacy, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and addressing key issues such as climate change, ethical practices, social impact, accessibility, and inclusivity.
To grant this certification, Bureau Veritas, a globally recognized leader in testing, inspection, and certification services, conducted a comprehensive audit on various aspects of event organization. This ranged from logistics and procurement to health and safety protocols, and facility management across both internal and external venues, including Al Wasl Plaza, Dubai Exhibition Center, Terra, Alif, Nexus, and the Women’s Pavilion. This achievement marks the first instance in the United Arab Emirates where six sites within a single area have received the ISO 20121:2024 certification, the updated international standard for sustainable event management.
Sanjeev Khosla, Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Dubai Expo City, stated, “Dubai Expo City is the legacy of Expo 2020, and events are an integral part of our identity, whether they are unique family activities or conferences that contribute to addressing the world’s most pressing issues. As a collaborative platform, Dubai Expo City plays a significant role as a destination for events and a hub for key sectors that support Dubai’s economic agenda (D33). We are committed to fulfilling this role responsibly as our city grows and evolves. The ISO certification for sustainable events recognizes our efforts to embed sustainability in everything we do, enhancing Expo City’s status as a vibrant community that balances social, environmental, and economic impacts.”
Dubai Expo City has established a dedicated system for managing sustainable events, adopting international best practices for sustainable venues and events while tailoring them to regional realities. In recognition of its exemplary efforts, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism has highlighted Dubai Expo City in its sustainable events guide as a model for sites and destinations focusing on sustainability and environmental stewardship. It is also spotlighted as a benchmark for sustainable urban design in its annual sustainability report.
The attainment of sustainable event management certification follows Dubai Expo City’s achievement of being recognized as an accredited destination for autism, offering support for visitors with autism and sensory disorders. Furthermore, the city has achieved WELL Community standards, focusing on health and well-being, and obtained platinum level certification under the “LEED for Cities and Communities” program, which emphasizes inclusivity, economic development, and environmental conservation.
The master plan for Dubai Expo City sets specific objectives in areas such as biodiversity preservation and enhancement; reduction of energy consumption and increased use of clean energy; decreased water usage with a shift towards alternative water sources; promotion of low-carbon public transportation options; creation of walkable and bike-friendly spaces; and facilitation of economic opportunities and high-quality work environments.
Dubai Expo City is a pivotal component of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, strategically located near Al Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai Exhibition Center, and Jebel Ali Port. The city operates under a master plan that prioritizes human and environmental considerations while leveraging its premier strategic location.